EAGLEVILLE — Candidates for the Methacton School Board told the community why they should be elected Tuesday night at a candidates’ forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Abington/Cheltenham/Jenkintown and the Methacton Home and School Council.

The forum began with each candidate explaining why they are running for the board and what would they like to accomplish if elected.

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Cho was given the floor first and said he was running because he loves his community and his three boys. “I want to make a contribution,” Cho said.

If elected, Cho said he would like to increase board communication with the public. Cho was the first of many candidates to express a desire to complete the field project that will bring turf fields with lights to the district.

The turf and lights project has been ongoing since 2008, with planning having started earlier, he said.

Earnshaw moved back to Pennsylvania 12 years ago and cited Methacton’s reputation as a reason for doing so. He said he is running help that reputation continue.

Earnshaw said he plans to help the district fiscally with his 25 years of financial management. Specifically he said he could help to intelligently reduce spending. The field project and community engagement was also on his list of things to be accomplished.

Hackett said she wants to participate in the process of education.

“It is a community activity that takes the whole community,” she said, adding that she wants to help the district do right by the children.

Hackett said the challenges facing the district have changed, and the board must assist in a new approach to preparing children in an economy increasingly based on knowledge and technology.

Nascimento said he is running based on his deep sense of community service. Citing his past four years on the board, he said he wants to push forward with what is already started.

“I have a passion for education and fiscal policy,” Nascimento said. “The fiscal policy affects the local economy. Education is the great equalizer.”

Phillips too said he desired to continue what he already started in his past four years on the board, citing his involvement in pushing through the turf and lights initiative. “The board already operates differently than it did when I first got on it.”

Phillips said he wants to establish a transparency on school board, saying it is an issue for many community members. Additionally Phillips said he wants a zero percent increase in taxes.

Rothe said he saw his children as the primary reason for running. He said he wants to do what is best for all the children in the district.

“The school district has gone through terrible times with budgets,” Rothe said.

Despite tough times, Rothe said the board has done a good time over his past four years. He too wants to continue all that was started while he was on the board, including the field project, he said.